Most Scottish health boards have used less than half long Covid money – study

Ministers have been warned to “change tack” on long Covid as figures show NHS Grampian spent just 13% of its long Covid funding.

Figures analysed by the Scottish Liberal Democrats show just three health boards: Lanarkshire, Orkney and the Western Isles, used all of their funding for the condition in 2022-23.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said: “So much of this staggering underspend comes down to the SNP Government’s failure to commit to supporting health boards in the long term.”

He accused First Minister Humza Yousaf of “hiding behind the excuse” of staffing, after he said last year the underspend was due to delays in recruiting posts.

But Mr Cole-Hamilton said the Scottish Government had been warned the non-recurring nature of the funding would pose problems with recruitment due to the creation of temporary posts.

Speaking on long Covid awareness day, he added: “We also know that the Government now plans to stretch long Covid funding over five years rather than three, with the total funding available remaining unchanged.

“This lacklustre and incoherent approach is an insult to those ordinary Scots who face breathing difficulties, crushing fatigue, and any number of other debilitating symptoms associated with the condition.”

“In England, new care pathways are already up and running but in Scotland we are far behind.

“I want to see the Scottish Government changing tack and working with health boards to ensure funding can be put to use to help all those in need.

“This starts by addressing obstacles that would otherwise prevent key funding from being spent.”

Public health minister Jenni Minto said the Scottish Government takes “long Covid very seriously” and recognises the impact it can have on those affected.

Ms Minto added: “Thanks to backing from our £10 million Long Covid Support Fund, 12 out of 14 NHS boards have active long Covid pathways in operation, and elsewhere well-established referral pathways exist to a range of services which can provide support to people with symptoms resulting from long Covid.

“Boards didn’t need to use all of the money made available to them over the first year of the fund but we remain committed to delivering the fund in full.

“The vast majority of boards have now accessed the funds available or increased the amount spent.

“We regularly engage with boards on their capacity needs and to inform the allocation of the fund. We will consider baselining funding at a level based on progress made over 2023-24.”

An NHS Grampian spokesperson said: "The 2022/23 period saw us undertake a considerable amount of work to understand what the demand would be for a Long Covid service and how it ought to be structured.

"As a result, clinical positions were not filled until the end of the financial year.

"During 2023/24 we have continued to develop the service, and recruit to it, increasing the amount we have spent.

"Looking ahead to 2024/25 we expect to spend the full allocation."